This bill requires Medicare Advantage plans to implement electronic pre-approval systems for medical services by 2028 and meet transparency reporting standards starting in 2027. Plans must publicly report data on approval/denial rates, appeal outcomes, response times, and technology use for pre-approval requests, including details on how denials relate to clinical criteria. It establishes a 24-hour response timeframe for certain requests and mandates annual reviews of pre-approval requirements based on data and input from seniors and providers. The law directly affects Medicare Advantage plans, seniors enrolled in these plans, and healthcare providers who submit pre-approval requests. These changes aim to make the pre-approval process faster, more transparent, and more accountable for seniors seeking covered medical services.
Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act This bill prohibits payment card networks from using merchant codes that distinguish firearms retailers from general-merchandise retailers or sporting-goods retailers. The Department of Justice must enforce this bill and report annually on the resulting investigations and cases.
The Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 would make daylight saving time permanent across the United States, ending the current practice of changing clocks twice yearly. It repeals the 1966 law requiring seasonal time changes and adjusts time zone offsets to reflect permanent daylight saving time (e.g., shifting from "4 hours" to "3 hours" in historical references). States that currently opt out of daylight saving time (like Arizona and Hawaii) would retain their existing arrangements, while all other states would adopt permanent daylight saving time unless they choose to stay on standard time. This change would directly affect all U.S. residents by eliminating the need to reset clocks in spring and fall.
This resolution honors National Boys and Girls Club Week by formally recognizing the organization's work with youth across the United States. It highlights the efforts of over 5,500 clubs that provide safe out-of-school programming and support more than 4.2 million young people annually. The Senate encourages the public to celebrate this week and commend the Boys and Girls Clubs of America for helping students develop essential skills in areas like STEM, leadership, and financial literacy.
The Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2026 restricts federal agencies from entering into settlement agreements that require payments to third parties unless those funds directly remedy actual harm or compensate for services rendered. This law prohibits officials from directing settlement money to entities other than the United States for purposes such as slush funds or unrelated projects. To ensure compliance, the bill mandates annual reports to the Congressional Budget Office detailing the distribution of settlement funds and requires federal Inspectors General to publicly report any violations to congressional committees. These reporting requirements are set to expire seven years after the bill is enacted.
The American Citizenship Act proposes changes to how birthright citizenship is determined for children born in the United States. Under this bill, a newborn would automatically be a U.S. citizen only if at least one parent is a U.S. citizen or has lawful permanent resident status at the time of birth. The legislation explicitly excludes children born to parents who are both undocumented or do not meet these residency requirements from receiving citizenship solely based on their birthplace. Importantly, the bill states that these new rules will not apply retroactively to anyone who was already born before the law takes effect.
The STOP Child Care Fraud Act aims to reduce fraud and improve oversight within the federal child care subsidy program by requiring stricter verification processes for parents and providers. States must now verify family income and assets without relying on self-certification, limit payment exceptions for absent children to six days per month, and use electronic tools to confirm attendance. The bill also mandates that states integrate data from various systems to detect suspicious patterns and requires the federal government to review state compliance at least every three years. Additionally, the law establishes a national database of disqualified providers, imposes stricter penalties for audit failures, and sets specific asset and income limits for eligible families.
The Protecting American Taxpayers Act is a comprehensive bill designed to combat government fraud, recover misused funds, and strengthen oversight across various federal programs. It directly affects federal agencies, state governments administering public assistance, small businesses, veterans, and contractors by imposing new reporting requirements, extending statutes of limitations for fraud cases, and restricting financial assistance to entities linked to foreign agents or the Taliban. Key mechanisms include requiring child care payments to be based on recorded attendance rather than enrollment, mandating investigations into sudden spikes in health care spending, prohibiting small businesses with convicted fraudsters from receiving loans, and creating a new officer within the Department of Veterans Affairs dedicated to scam prevention. Additionally, the legislation rescinds unspent pandemic-era funds for deficit reduction, expands whistleblower protections for defense and non-defense contractors, and establishes stricter rules against transferring public assistance money abroad via remittance transfers.
The SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026 directs that money collected from the 9/11 Security Fee must be used exclusively for aviation security improvements rather than other government purposes. Starting in fiscal year 2027, the law creates two separate funds: one to cover general security operations and another specifically for purchasing and installing new checkpoint technology at airports. The Transportation Security Administration will manage these funds to pay for screening upgrades, security equipment, and related personnel support, ensuring the fee directly benefits aviation safety.
The FEC Administrative Improvements Act updates federal election laws to modernize how political committees report and make payments. It requires that filings for electioneering communications be submitted electronically, streamlining the reporting process for these groups. Additionally, the bill permits political committees to make financial disbursements using methods other than traditional checks, such as electronic transfers. These provisions adjust administrative requirements under the Federal Election Campaign Act without changing spending limits or campaign rules.
HR 3978, the Nuclear REFUEL Act, amends the Atomic Energy Act to exclude certain nuclear fuel reprocessing methods from the definition of a "production facility." Specifically, it exempts facilities that reprocess spent nuclear fuel without separating plutonium from other elements, or continue uranium enrichment. This change would directly affect nuclear fuel recycling companies and facilities seeking to process spent reactor fuel under streamlined regulations. The bill focuses on altering regulatory classification to potentially simplify licensing for specific recycling processes.
This resolution expresses support for designating July 10th as Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day to honor the workers who maintain the nation's electrical grid. The bill specifically recognizes the dangerous conditions these employees face, such as working at heights near live power lines and responding to disasters like hurricanes and wildfires. It also commemorates Henry Miller, the first president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who died on July 10, 1896, while performing his duties. Ultimately, the measure encourages the public to observe this day with reflection on the contributions of lineworkers.
